Information retrieval method with natural language interface
First Claim
1. A method of retrieving documents in a database retrieval system having a knowledge database, the method comprising the acts ofa. receiving a query string inputted by a user into a natural language interface of said database retrieval system, said interface being coupled to a string source having a plurality of pre-stored strings, each of said pre-stored strings being coupled to one of said documents;
- b. in response to said receiving act, detecting from said strings source a plurality of equivalent strings having essentially the same meaning as said query string;
c. in response to said detecting act, initially ranking said plurality of equivalent strings by a weighing correlation between said query string and each of said equivalent strings;
d. generating a first correlation value for the meaning of each of said plurality of equivalent strings;
e. in response to said act of generating a first correlation value, quantifying the correlation in meaning between said equivalent strings and said query string with a first factor;
f. generating a second correlation value for a wording pattern of each of said plurality of equivalent strings;
g. in response to said act of generating a second correlation value, quantifying the correlation in wording pattern between said equivalent strings and said query string with a second factor;
h. in response to said quantifying acts, ranking said equivalent strings by a combined correlation of meanings and wording patterns for each of said plurality of equivalent strings; and
i. in response to said act of ranking said equivalent strings, retrieving a document coupled to a selected and ranked equivalent string and displaying said document to said user.
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Abstract
A method for retrieving documents in a knowledge database is disclosed in which a natural language query question is mapped to a plurality of equivalent strings. Both relevancies in meaning and in wording pattern are taken into account in ranking the equivalent strings by introducing respective weight factors. A document coupled to the top ranked equivalent string is retrieved and displayed to the questioner.
414 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of retrieving documents in a database retrieval system having a knowledge database, the method comprising the acts of
a. receiving a query string inputted by a user into a natural language interface of said database retrieval system, said interface being coupled to a string source having a plurality of pre-stored strings, each of said pre-stored strings being coupled to one of said documents; -
b. in response to said receiving act, detecting from said strings source a plurality of equivalent strings having essentially the same meaning as said query string;
c. in response to said detecting act, initially ranking said plurality of equivalent strings by a weighing correlation between said query string and each of said equivalent strings;
d. generating a first correlation value for the meaning of each of said plurality of equivalent strings;
e. in response to said act of generating a first correlation value, quantifying the correlation in meaning between said equivalent strings and said query string with a first factor;
f. generating a second correlation value for a wording pattern of each of said plurality of equivalent strings;
g. in response to said act of generating a second correlation value, quantifying the correlation in wording pattern between said equivalent strings and said query string with a second factor;
h. in response to said quantifying acts, ranking said equivalent strings by a combined correlation of meanings and wording patterns for each of said plurality of equivalent strings; and
i. in response to said act of ranking said equivalent strings, retrieving a document coupled to a selected and ranked equivalent string and displaying said document to said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An information retrieval system, comprising:
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a knowledge database having a document source comprising a plurality of documents and a string source comprising a plurality of pre-stored strings, each of said pre-stored strings being coupled to at least one of said documents;
a natural language interface for a user to input a query string, said interface being coupled to said string source;
a natural language processor for detecting equivalent strings having essentially the same meaning as said query string input at said natural language interface;
means for weighing a correlation in meaning between said query string and said equivalent strings by a first factor, and weighing a correlation in wording pattern between said query and said equivalent strings by a second factor, so as to obtain a combined correlation;
means for ranking said equivalent strings with said combined correlation; and
means for retrieving said documents coupled to a selected equivalent string. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification